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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 104405-104406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30531]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1857; Airspace Docket No. 19-ANM-99]
RIN 2120-AA66

Modification of Class D and Class E Airspace; Revocation of Class 
E Airspace; Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class D airspace and Class E airspace 
designated as a surface area and revokes the Class E airspace 
designated as an extension to the Class D or Class E surface area at 
Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO. Additionally, this action 
modifies the administrative portions of the airport's legal 
descriptions to match the FAA's database. These actions will support 
the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual 
flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, February 20, 2025. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 
and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith T. Adams, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone: (206) 231-2428.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106, 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's 
authority. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described 
in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, 
the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of 
the airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the 
efficient use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority as it modifies Class D airspace and Class E airspace 
designated as a surface area and revokes Class E airspace designated as 
an extension to the Class D or Class E surface area to support IFR and 
VFR operations at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2024-1857 in the 
Federal Register (89 FR 73022; September 09, 2024), proposing to amend 
the Class D airspace and Class E airspace designated as a surface area 
and revoke the Class E airspace designated as an extension to the Class 
D or Class E surface area Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two 
comments were received in favor of the proposal.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D, E2, and E4 airspace designations are published in 
paragraphs 5000, 6002, and 6004, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document amends the 
current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11J, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024. FAA Order JO 7400.11J is 
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. 
These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 
7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11J lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying the Class D airspace 
and Class E airspace designated as a surface area and revoking the 
Class E airspace

[[Page 104406]]

designated as an extension to the Class D or Class E surface area at 
Buckley Space Force Base, CO.
    The lateral boundaries of the airport's Class D and Class E surface 
areas are insufficiently sized and expanded to the southeast to better 
contain IFR arrivals when less than 1,000 feet above the surface and 
departing IFR aircraft until reaching the next adjacent airspace. 
Additionally, an approximately 0.30 nautical mile gap between Class E 
and Class G airspaces is closed by merging the Buckley Space Force Base 
and Centennial Airport surface areas. As such, the Buckley Space Force 
Base Class D and Class E surface areas are modified to be within a 4.4-
mile radius of the airport, within 2 miles northeast and 4 miles 
southwest of the airport's 151[deg] bearing extending to 7.1 miles 
southeast, and within 4 miles south and 4.4 miles north of the 
airport's 270[deg] bearing extending to 4.7 miles west, excluding that 
airspace within the Denver International Airport Class B and Centennial 
Airport Class D airspace areas.
    Buckley Space Force Base's Class E airspace designated as an 
extension to the Class D or Class E surface area is revoked. The Class 
E extension is no longer required due to the expansion of the airport's 
surface area airspace.
    Finally, the administrative portions of the airport's legal 
descriptions are modified to match the FAA's database. The airport's 
name on line two of both legal descriptions is changed to read 
``Buckley Space Force Base, CO.'' Additionally, line four of both 
surface area legal descriptions now include ``Denver International 
Airport, CO'' and ``Centennial Airport, CO'' as references, as they are 
used to define the airport's surface areas.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an 
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. 
It, therefore: (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979); 
and (3) does not warrant preparation of a regulatory evaluation as the 
anticipated impact is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that 
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified 
that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, 
paragraph 5-6.5.a. This airspace action is not expected to cause any 
potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary 
circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental 
assessment.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 
24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ANM CO D Aurora, CO [Amended]

Buckley Space Force Base, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]42'06'' N, long. 104[deg]45'07'' W)
Denver International Airport, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]51'42'' N, long. 104[deg]40'23'' W)
Centennial Airport, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]34'12'' N, long. 104[deg]50'57'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to but not 
including 7,500 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of the airport, 
within 2 miles northeast and 4 miles southwest of the airport's 
151[deg] bearing extending to 7.1 miles southeast, and within 4 
miles south and 4.4 miles north of the airport's 270[deg] bearing 
extending to 4.7 miles west, excluding that airspace within the 
Denver International Airport Class B and Centennial Airport Class D 
airspace areas. This Class D airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air 
Missions. The effective date and time will thereafter be 
continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM CO E2 Aurora, CO [Amended]

Buckley Space Force Base, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]42'06'' N, long. 104[deg]45'07'' W)
Denver International Airport, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]51'42'' N, long. 104[deg]40'23'' W)
Centennial Airport, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]34'12'' N, long. 104[deg]50'57'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to but not 
including 7,500 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of the airport, 
within 2 miles northeast and 4 miles southwest of the airport's 
151[deg] bearing extending to 7.1 miles southeast, and within 4 
miles south and 4.4 miles north of the airport's 270[deg] bearing 
extending to 4.7 miles west, excluding that airspace within the 
Denver International Airport Class B and Centennial Airport Class D 
airspace areas. This Class E airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air 
Missions. The effective date and time will thereafter be 
continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM CO E4 Aurora, CO [Removed]

Aurora, Buckley ANG Base, CO
    (Lat. 39[deg]42'06'' N, long. 104[deg]45'07'' W)
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, December 17, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-30531 Filed 12-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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